Looking for a little depth

I’m reading a book describing the Rwandan genocide where almost a million people were slaughtered within an extremely short time period. During 1994, in the span of 100 days, 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered mostly by machete, mostly at the hands of colleagues, fellow villagers, and even relatives. This event was described as the ‘fastest and most efficient killing spree of the 20th century!’ Yet, Rwanda was statistically the most ‘Christian’ of any African country in the mid – 1990s!

How can we reconcile this (hopefully apparent) inconsistency where the church was unable to prevent or - at a minimum - restrain genocide? How is it possible that so many Christians could participate – while standing by or with machete in hand - in these acts of murder?

I began reading the book with hope of answering these questions and have yet to find adequate resolution. But the Rwandan story has forced me to consider the depth of the faith we are encouraging among homeless folks here at the Rescue Mission. Candidly, we have men and women going through the programs who have never been ‘written up’ or broken a rule while staying here. Many of them are not swearing, not drinking and dressing better and grooming more neatly than when they first arrived. Some can even quote the Bible and sing spiritual songs in chapel! And yet, some will leave here totally unchanged! Underneath the façade they are still thinking the same, struggling with the same issues as when they entered the program. And superficial faith is neither sufficient to prevent a holocaust nor can it withstand assault from the addictions, obsessions, toils, and difficulties that confront all of us in daily life.

How easy it is for all of us – Hutu and Tutsi, or resident and seasoned Christian alike – to define our faith by what we do or don’t do!

A superficial faith allowed the Christians of Rwanda to ‘friendly up’ to the then government. A superficial faith kept the Rwandan Christians from seeing the power grab of the majority Hutus for what it was – a twisted way to compensate for their prior exploitation by the Tutsis. A superficial faith tolerated the butchering of friend, brother and sister, grandma and aunt. And, though apparently less consequential, a superficial faith keeps our men and women – and us - in bondage to addiction and sin.

“Lord forgive us. Forgive us for settling for the ease of defining our faith by what we do or don’t do. Forgive us for judging others when our own heart is far from being centered on you. Forgive us for our pride and help us to be authentic and vulnerable so that in our weakness You will be glorified. And help all of us in the Body of Christ – Hutu, Tutsi, rescue mission worker and resident – grow deep in our relationship with You."

-Steve Brubaker, Residential Ministries